Christmas at Hope Hall by Pam Rhodes

Author:Pam Rhodes [Rhodes, Pam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782642909
Publisher: Lion Hudson
Published: 2021-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“Did you see this?” Doris was sliding her outdoor coat off her shoulders so she could hang it on the hooks in the foyer while she had lunch. On her way, she had stopped to stare at the new poster on the Hope Hall noticeboard.

Flora, who had travelled to the hall on the bus with Doris that morning, walked over to join her friend to see what was being advertised.

“A quiz night,” enthused Betty. “I really fancy going along to that.”

“Oh, me too,” agreed Flora. “I’m a sucker for quiz programmes on the TV. I like having a go at the answers, even though I always get them wrong.”

“Remind me not to be on your team, then.”

“My Eric is good at quizzes,” mused Connie, who had come to stand alongside them. “His father was a schoolteacher, you know.”

“Did someone mention a team? Whatever it is, I volunteer – as long as it’s not for downhill skiing,” interrupted Percy as he came across to read the notice for himself.

“How’s your general knowledge, Percy?” asked Betty. “This quiz is being organized by Rotary, so it’s a sensible affair. We don’t want any of your nonsense.”

“Or your smutty jokes,” added Flora, who had just arrived to see what they were all looking at.

“Oh, I rather like Percy’s jokes,” quipped Betty.

“I never understand them,” sighed Connie.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” They all stopped in their tracks as Shirley’s voice rang out across the foyer. “Lunch is served. Kindly take your seats if you want your grub.”

Settling the Grown-ups’ Lunch Club members into their allotted seats was always a long-winded affair, as some needed more help than others. Ida was already sitting bolt upright in her seat with an impatient expression on her face as Betty, Flora and Doris joined her.

“The four of us need to form a team,” announced Betty as she pulled her chair out ready to sit down. “What shall we call ourselves?”

Ida looked across at Betty with disapproval, as if she were an overexcited child.

“It’s a quiz night, Ida,” explained Flora. “Rotary’s running it here on Saturday week.”

“There’s a buffet included,” added Doris. “I’d come just for that.”

“Oh, do let’s put our names down.” Betty’s face was full of excitement. “Ida, you will come, won’t you? We’ll need you as our team captain.”

Ida didn’t answer immediately, but after a pause she turned her attention towards Flora. “Did you say that Rotary is organizing the evening?”

“That’s what it said on the advert.”

“And their evenings are always good fun,” interjected Betty.

“It’s for charity, then,” stated Ida. “We should always support charitable causes. Yes, I agree we should form a team, and I will be the captain.”

“Did you say that you intend to take part in this venture, ladies?” Percy demanded to know from his seat on the next table. “Our team, the Conquerors, will be glad of a bit of healthy competition before we sweep the floor with you.”

“The Conquerors?” giggled Flora. “The Tailenders would be a better name for you four.”

“Well, you’ll certainly have your tails between your legs when we win first prize,” snapped Robert from Percy’s table.

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